Ball, Ace__/ from: New Home, Tx...../ Born: Arthur Balch c.1920-died 2004..../ Resident of: Lubbock & Big Spring,TX & Pueblo, Colorado..../ skill: singer, musician, publisher, DJ & recording artist.../ most important active period: 1950-60..../ recorded at: Ben Hall studio, Big Spring--c.1958...../ song(s) of note: I've Lost Again, High School Wedding Band, American Agriculture Movement, The Last Rodeo...../ record labels: Okeh, Star Talent, Caprock & Ace-Hi .../ accomplishments: He had 4 releases on the Okeh label in 1953-54. He recorded with Hank Harral & the Palomino Cowhands. Balch played the KSEL Western Jamboree in Lubbock-c.1953. He played on the same show as Elvis in c.1955 in Lubbock. He established the Ace-Hi label after moving to Colorado later in life. He died from a stairway fall in 2004

Blakley, Cliff__from: Roswell,NM and Lubbock, TX / skills: guitarist & vocalist / active 1950-70's / recorded where: Clovis,NM / label: Starday / Songs: Get off my Toe , I'm not going steady anymore / note: Blakley was also a member of his brother's Western Swing band but the song listed above is now considered a rockabilly classic!

Bob & his Agents__from: Alpine & Odessa area.../ key member: Bob Simonetti./ Other members: Brett Bates possibly../ A group composed of students from Sul Ross college.../ recorded where: Highland Sound studio in Alpine, Tx / possible recording date: c.1965../ single release date:. same../ Label: AOK / song titles: Green Back Dollar, One-Sided..../ The group appears to have relocated to the Midland-Odessa area in c.1967 and joined Ben Durall as the New Roadrunners. They continued with this new moniker even though Durall departed the group not long afterwards. / Soon they also released a record on the AOK label as the 'New Roadrunners'.

Bob Payton and the South Plains Cowboys..../ from: ? / record label: Big Tree / songs: I've lost the One, Belle of Monterey

Brower: Cecil Brower's Cowboy Band /__from: Odessa,TX / active: c.1948 / key member: Cecil Brower--fiddle / other members: Andy Schroder--steel guitar, Buster Ferguson--guitar, Frank Reveau--piano & Jack Jordan--standup bass / Note: This nightclub band played on station KECK in the Odessa--Midland area in the late forties and perhaps longer. By c.1950 Brower had left the band and Andy Schroder became the leader of the band. / 78 rpm records of this group were released on the ACE label of Odessa, in 1949-50.

Chanters, The__/ from: Pampa & Amarillo,TX...../ key member: Bill Mangum-bass guitar & vocals / other members: Tommy Pogue-lead guitar, Butch Kelly-organ, Danny Darling-drums / later members: Larry Marcum-guitar, Gallen Engelbrick-drums? / played where: Hong Kong Lounge, Amarillo-1968 / note: This group with Bill Mangum fronting initially played frat parties around WTSU in Canyon and Amarillo. They won a 'Band Battle' against the 'Gemini Five' and another group at the SUB in Canyon in c.1966 in one of their first outings on the Campus. This event is preserved in a photo on this website: www.nashvillemusicpros.com/profile/dannydarling